Irena Brčić Karačonji

Rijeka, 4 June 1973

• 2010 Nicotine and cotinine in children exposed to passive smoking and lung function impairment [Ph.D. Thesis]. Zagreb: Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb; Supervisor: Lj. Skender
• 1999-2004 Postgraduate study in Biology (Toxicology), Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb Assessment of the exposure of human population by determination of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons in urine [M.Sc. Thesis]. Zagreb: Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb; 2004. Supervisor: Lj. Skender.
• 1992-1998 Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb (Medical Biochemistry) Optimisation of thrombocytes’ isolation procedure from small blood volume [B.Sc. Thesis]. Zagreb: Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb; 1998. Supervisor: I. Čepelak

• 2000->
  Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb (Analytical Toxicology and Mineral Metabolism Unit)

• Identification of drug abuse in selected populations; Development and validation of analytical methods for trace determination of organic pollutants and their degradation products in biological and environmental samples; Assessment of passive smoking and solvent exposure; Assessment of health effects.

• 2015 Workshop on pharmacology and toxicity of new psychoactive substances (TAIEX); Zagreb, Croatia
• 2014 Workshop Advanced School of Mass Spectrometry; Belgrade, Serbia
• 2014 Expert Mission on assessing the Early Warning System in the area of anti-drug policy (TAIEX); Zagreb, Croatia
• 2014 Study Visit on developing capacities for identification of new psychoactive substances in biological samples (TAIEX); Verona-Pavia, Italia
• 2014 Expert Mission on authorisation of biocidal products (TAIEX); Zagreb, Croatia
• 2006 Workshop on Validation; Lipica, Slovenia
• 2005 Training course: Service and Application IASON PLab, Plab-Allergy; Graz, Austria
• 2005 Technical Support Training on Varian Saturn GC/MS; Zagreb, Croatia • 2004 Risk Assessment Summer School – RASS X; Bodensee, Germany
• 2002 1st Toxicology Workshop SloTOX 2002; Ljubljana, Slovenia
• 1997 Molecular Genetics – characterisation of neuropeptide receptors and their genes; Deutsches Institut f. Ernährungsforschung, Bergholz-Rehbrücke, Germany

1. M. Piasek, J. Jurasović, A. Sekovanić, N. Brajenović, I. Brčić Karačonji, A. Mikolić, A. Sulimanec Grgec, S. Stasenko, Placental cadmium as an additional non-invasive bioindicator of active maternal tobacco smoking, J. Toxicol. Environ. Health A 79 (2016) 443-446.
2. N. Brajenović, I. Brčić Karačonji, A. Bulog, Evaluation of urinary BTEX, nicotine and cotinine as biomarkers of airborne pollutants in non-smokers and smokers, J Toxicol. Environ. Health A 78 (2015) 1133-1136.
3. N. Brajenović, I. Brčić Karačonji, A. Mikolić, S. Stasenko, M. Piasek, Tobacco smoke and pregnancy: segmental analysis of nicotine in maternal hair, Arch. Environ. Occup. Health 68 (2013) 117-122.
4. I. Brčić Karačonji, L. Zimić, N. Brajenović, Lj. Skender, Optimisation of a solid-phase microextraction method for the analysis of nicotine in hair, J. Sep. Sci. 34 (2011) 2726-2731.
5. I. Brčić Karačonji, Lj. Skender, V. Karačić, Determination of nicotine and cotinine in urine by headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection, Acta Chim. Slov. 54 (2007) 74-78.
6. I. Brčić Karačonji, Facts about nicotine toxicity, Arh. Hig. Rada Toksikol. 56 (2005) 363-371.
7. Lj. Skender, I. Brčić, V. Karačić, Urine analysis for the evaluation of environmental exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons, Arch. Environ. Health 59 (2004) 237-244.
8. I. Brčić, Lj. Skender, Determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes in urine by purge and trap gas chromatography, J. Sep. Sci. 26 (2003) 1225-1229.
9. Lj. Skender, V. Karačić, I. Brčić, A. Bagarić, Quantitative determination of amphetamines, cocaine, and opiates in human hair by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, Forensic Sci. Int. 125 (2002) 120-126.
10. Lj. Skender, V. Karačić, I. Brčić, Comparison of rapid drugs of abuse testing kits and the GC / MS technique in the analysis of human urine after consumption of codeine, pholcodine and poppy seed, Biochemia Med. 11 (2001) 79-85.

• Croatian Society of Toxicology (HTD)
• Society of Hair Testing (SOHT)
• The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT)

Participation on research projects

• 2014-2018 Associate on the national scientific project ˝Organic Pollutants in Environment – Markers and Biomarkers of Toxicity” (funded by Croatian Science Foundation, CSF grant No. 8366, PI: Davor Želježić, Ph.D., Sci. Adv.)
• 2011-2013 Associate on the national professional project ˝Monitoring of organic and inorganic pollutants in the environment of Plitvice Lakes National Park˝ (funded by Plitvice Lakes National Park, PI: Snježana Herceg Romanić, Ph.D., Sci. Adv.)
• 2007-2013 Scientific Novice / Associate on the national scientific project ˝Organic pollutants in environment: distribution, interactions, human exposure” (funded by Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, MSES grant No. 022-0222882-2896, PI: Vlasta Drevenkar, Ph.D., Sci. Adv.)
• 2004-2006 Associate on the project ˝Early drug abuse detection” (funded by Zagreb County Government, PI: Višnja Karačić, Ph.D., Sci. Adv.)
• 2002-2006 Scientific Novice / Associate on the national scientific project ˝Pesticides, persistent and volatile organic pollutants in the environment” (funded by Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, MSES grant No. 0022003, PI: Vlasta Drevenkar, Ph.D., Sci. Adv.)
• 2000-2002 Scientific Novice / Associate on the national scientific project ˝Identification of drug abuse by comparative analysis of biological specimens” (funded by Croatian Ministry of Science and Technology, MST grant No. 00220303, PI: Ljiljana Skender, Ph.D., Senior. Sci. Assoc.)